For history, without a doubt. Italy, one of the fastest growing countries in tennis in recent years, now achieved a double for the books of his country. Matteo Berrettini and Jannick Sinner reached the Australian Open quarter-finals, the first time two Australian men have been in the top eight at a Grand Slam in almost 50 years.
Only once had Italy featured two men in the quarterfinals of the same Grand Slam. That happened 49 years ago, at Roland Garros in 1973, with the historic Adriano Panatta and Paolo Bertolucci.
On that occasion, Panatta reached the semifinals, losing to Croatian Nikola Pilic, while Bertolucci also lost to that opponent in the quarterfinals. The best thing about Panatta on the clay of Paris was having been champion in 1976, while his compatriot gave his best in the aforementioned 1973 edition.
Now, Berrettini, No. 7 in the world, finalist of Wimbledon 2021, is performing at a high level and got into the wheel of the eight best on the hard courts of Australia for the first time in his professional career, thus reaching at least one occasion to that instance in each of the four Grand Slams.
On his own, Sinner, No. 10 in the ATP ranking, 20 years old, five years younger than his compatriot, reached the quarterfinals for the first time at the Australian Open.
Both are in great shape. Berrettini will face Frenchman Gael Monfils, who has a lot of experience, and Sinner’s rival will be Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world No. 4, finalist last year at the French Open. The challenge is hard for both of them and they go for more.
